Urgent Public Call to Engage in National Education Survey Before Friday Deadline
26.02.2026
The Department of Education has launched a nationwide survey on the future of Primary and Secondary education, an opportunity many believe may not come again for years. The survey, part of The National Conversation on Education, closes this Friday 28th February, and members of the public are being urged to take part before the deadline.
The survey is open to everyone, not only parents, with the only restriction being one submission per eircode. You can access it here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/the-national-conversation-on-education/
Advocates for stronger parental involvement in education warn that this consultation represents a crucial moment to voice concerns about how Irish education is evolving. They caution that well‑organised activist groups will mobilise their supporters to influence the outcome—and believe it is essential that parents and community members do the same to ensure a balanced response.
They have highlighted several areas of concern that they believe should be raised in the survey, including:
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The diminishing role of parents as primary stakeholders in their children’s education
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Concerns about safeguarding within the new curriculum
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The influence of external organisations entering schools
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The presence of Critical Social Justice frameworks across subjects
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The prioritisation of UN Sustainable Development Goals and Global Citizenship Education over core academic subjects
A recent video discussion outlining these concerns in more detail is available here from the Natural Women's Council:
Supporters are being urged to complete the survey before end of day Friday and to share the link widely with friends, family, and local networks. They emphasise that public participation now could shape Irish education policy for years to come.